What is printable DVD-R? How to print on inkjet printable DVD/CD discs?
Inkjet Printable DVD Media - Introduction
Looking for a new way to customize your DVDs and CD-Rs for your next promotion or sales even? Inkjet printable DVD and CD-R Inkjet Printable Media brings you a great way to express your creativity!
Printing directly to the surface of your DVD-R inkjet printable offers certain advantages over using labels:
- It’s generally cheaper to buy printable inkjet media than to buy both media and labels. While the printer might represent an additional expense, you need a printer to print labels anyway; a media-capable printer actually costs about the same as a better inkjet printer.
- It’s easier than placing labels on many discs, as most printers have easy-to-use disc alignment.
- Labels can peel and cause damage to drive and player mechanisms; because the inkjet surface is part of the media, drive damage is less likely, regardless of storage conditions. Inkjet media is also saferin slot-loaded optical drives.
Printers
Until recently, printing directly onto CD and DVD Medias wasn’t something to do in your home or home office: the printing equipment was expensive for anyone that print in low volumes, and the printers were highly specialized. Now, companies like Canon, Epson, Hewlett Packard, Primera, and Rimage offer printers designed to print on DVD inkjet printable media.
These printers are available in a wide range of prices (starting at about $150) and are designed for either home or commercial use. Most can be used for more than just printing media ? they’ll print digital images, presentations, cards, and other projects. Some specialized units feature automated burning and printing for multiple CDs/DVDs.
Look for printers with easy-to-load CD/DVD trays, and consider the costs of the ink refill cartridges as part of your purchase if you plan to use the printer regularly. Be sure it includes the software required to print the media, and that the software is compatible with your computer operation system. If you will need to print more than one discs at a time, look for a printer that will accept multiple discs per print job.
Selecting & Burning Inkjet Printable CDs & DVDs
Inkjet-Printable CD-R, Inkjet Printable DVD-R and DVD+R Inkjet Printable media all comes in two base colors: Silver and White. White is great for most applications, although some people prefer a silver base to print digital photos and other images to disc. When printing to disc, be sure to use only media specifically designed for the purpose, as ‘regular’ media isn’t designed to accept the ink and can make a mess!
The only difference between ‘traditional’ DVDR media and the inkjet printable DVDR is the top surface, or protective layer. The inner layers — where the data ‘lives’ — are identical to those in other blank CD/DVD media. As a result, if you buy a media format compatible with your burner and your destination player, you’re good to go!
Storage & Handling
As with any blank DVD discs , you should always handle the discs by grasping their outer edges or center holes. Avoid exposing discs to direct sunlight, excessive heat or humidity. Inkjet printed discs are especially vulnerable to smudging in high humidity situations, or when handled by damp fingers. Inkjet printed DVD Media should not be stored or shipped in soft plastic or paper envelopes — the chemicals used to keep the package materials supple may soften the inks, causing the disc to stick to the sleeve and potentially damage the disc when removed. Using jewel cases or other containers that don't come into direct contact with the printed surface is the best to avoid.
Inkjet Printable DVD - How To Print
Set Up the CD/DVD Printing Process With a CD Printable Printer
Watch the flash demo for more on the CD/DVD printing process.
- To print on DVD/CD media, first you need the following item to accomplish: -DVD inkjet printers such as Epson R200/R300/R320/R340 -Inkjet Printable DVD/CD Media -Software to design printing images or texts (usually bundled with printers).
- Use the software to modify images and texts that you want to print. Beware of the difference between hub printable (also called full face printable) and non-hub printable DVD/CD media.
- Insert inkjet printable DVD/CD media face up into the printer’s CD/DVD tray and print. (You may need to switch the paper feed of your printer from auto to manual.) Many DVD/CD printers are able to handle printing on mini DVD/CD media as well.
- After printing, don’t touch the printing surface until the discs dry up.
Non Hub Printable
Hub Printable
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| How An Inkjet Printer Prints on Printable Media Animation (Pop Up) |
How the Tray Moves Animation (Pop Up) |
Shopping for a CD Printer and Printable CD/DVDs
Not all printers are created equal. To work with printable media, you need a CD/DVD printable printer. Whether you plan to print on CDs frequently or once in a while, our hardware section includes a selection of CD printers and CD publishers. Depending on your needs, you can choose from bargain printers with CD printing capabilities or professional grade CD/DVD Publishers with CD/DVD duplication functions, such as Primera Bravo II. Regular CDs or DVDs do not have the finish required to produce successful inkjet prints. We carry a selection of printable CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, and DVD+Rs with various finishes. Depending on the finish of the printable layer, you will get different results from the same designs.For example, the silver inject printable media will exude a shiny reflective surface, where as the white inkjet printable will be more like printing on paper.
Most Asked Question about Inkjet Printable DVDs
What is Inkjet Printable DVD-R?
Inkjet Printable DVD-R disc are the discs that have a special coating that is applied on the non-recording surface which allow consumer to do printings onto them directly. Usually this process is done by using a special CD/DVD printer. There are two type of disc that is currently available, one is the White Inkjet Printable DVD media such as the Ritek White inkjet printable DVD-R, or Silver Thermal Printable DVD-R.
What is the differences between Thermal Printable and Inkjet Printable?
A thermal CD printer uses pressure and heat to apply text and graphics to the CD-R printable surface. The resulting print is waterproof and scratchproof and does not require any additional coating. The major limitation of thermal print is it's inability to adequately produce photographic images. A thermal print should only be used for simple text and graphics. An inkjet CD printer works very much like a regular paper inkjet printer. The ink is sprayed from nozzles onto the inkjet printable blank CD-R media surface. After printing, the CDs are coated with a lacquer or laminate to ensure the CDs are highly water and scratch proof. The print quality is superb.
In fact, the vibrancy and detail of an inkjet print can only be matched by an offset print (not even a screen print comes close!) Photographic images, text, logos and other graphics are all rendered superbly. The main drawbacks of an inkjet print are the inability to produce Pantone colours, some degree of difficulty to precisely color match and time. It can take up to 4 minutes to print one full coverage CD! We use an inkjet print as standard for all our short run CD and DVD runs. The quality print out and the low price make it the best and most cost effective option for your projects with quantities below 500 units. We would always recommend an inkjet print instead of a thermal print for all short run work.
*NOTE: This Guide is assuming that you have a Printer that is able to print on top of Inkjet Printable DVD-R Media
Here are the 4 Easy Steps to print on Inkjet Printable CD or Inkjet Printable DVD Media
- Put The Printable CD or DVD R Disc onto the Tray
- Stick Tray into Printer and align it with the Arrows
- Print using the software/picture of your choice (Safest to use the printing software included with the printer)
- Done!
How An Inkjet Printer Prints on Printable Media Animation (Pop Up)
What are the disadvantages for traditional Adhesive CD Labels and Stickers?
You have encountered the phenomenon before, and dedicated many coasters to getting the sticky label to fit just right. Here's a rundown of the potential problems of adhesive CD/DVD labels:
- The sticky labels need be centered with a labeling gadget. DVD readers read at high speeds that require sufficient balance of the media.
- Air bubbles can develop after a certain time. It's unattractive and dangerous to your DVD reader.
- Removal of the labels can remove the top layer of lacquer and/or the reflective layer.
- Labels that are too thick or damaged can become jammed in the DVD reader.
- Acids from the adhesive can ruin the DVD Disc.
The alternative? Leave your CDs and DVDs blank and hope you will be able to remember what was on them...or mark them with a CD marker and hope everyone will be able to read your handwriting. Your options appear to be limited.
That is no longer the case. With a selection of inexpensive CD/DVD printers, you can label your media like the professionals. (If you print media frequently and copiously, you should take a look at our selection of professional DVD printers and industrial DVD publishers.) For the average consumer, Epson has models of printers that can do the job of a regular inkjet printer and print directly on to the surface of the CD/DVD blank medias, provided that the CD/DVD has the printable layer. These models include the Epson R200/R300/R320/R340.
What are the different surface types: Matte Finish, Silver Matte, Shiny Silver, Inkjet Printable, Thermal Printable, Hub Printable, and no stack ring
- Matte Finish DVD Media:
Dull finish on coated surface, which lacks gloss or luster. No fingerprints.
- Silver Matte DVD Media:
Same as Matte Finish - Dull finish on coated surface, which lacks gloss or luster. No fingerprints.
- Shiny Silver DVD Media:
Surface is of a reflective, lustrous white, ductile, malleable metallic element.
- Inkjet Printable DVD Media:
Surface is capable of being printed on using inkjet printers that have the capability to load DVD discs.
- Thermal Printable DVD Media:
Surface is capable of being printed using high end Printing Hardware where dots are selectively heated and cooled and impressed on a heat sensitive surface
- Hub Printable DVD Media:
That means you can print all the way to the center hub of the disc and personalize your DVDR disc in a more stylish and unique way!
- No Stack Ring DVD Media:
Always in conjunction with Hub Printable - No stack ring means that the center of the DVD ring is not present, which means you can print all the way to the center. The stacking ring refers to the small ridge around the inner plastic center ring on the disc. Its purpose is to keep the discs slightly separated when stacked on a spindle.
If you look at a standard disc, you will see the stacking ring. When a disc is to be hub printable, there is no stacking ring so that the printable surface can be applied all the way to the center hub. Also, for discs that are to be thermal printed, there is an advantage to not having a stacking ring. The stacking ring sticks up and interferes with the thermal printer head. A thermal printer cannot print any closer than 1/4" or so from the stacking ring. When there is no stacking ring there is no restriction on the thermal printing area.
